In the recent final electoral rolls issued by the Election Commission following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, the districts of Murshidabad and Malda have emerged as the regions with the most substantial number of voters whose documents remain pending for scrutiny. The data reveals that a total of 60.06 lakh electors statewide are classified as “under adjudication,” indicating that their documents have not yet undergone verification by judicial authorities.

Murshidabad and Malda Lead the List

Murshidabad leads the count with 11.01 lakh voters awaiting scrutiny, while Malda follows closely with 8.28 lakh. Both districts are noted for their significant Muslim populations, which constitute 66 percent in Murshidabad and 51 percent in Malda, as per the 2011 Census. The proximity of these districts to the Bangladesh border may contribute to their demographic characteristics.

Other Border Districts Among Top Five

Other border districts have also been highlighted among the top five for pending voter scrutiny. North 24 Parganas has recorded 5.91 lakh voters marked as under adjudication, while South 24 Parganas has 5.22 lakh and Uttar Dinajpur has 4.80 lakh. These districts too possess considerable minority populations and share borders with Bangladesh.

Additional District-Wise Figures

Apart from the leading five districts, notable numbers of pending cases have been observed in Purba Bardhaman, with 3.65 lakh voters, followed by Howrah at 2.89 lakh, Nadia at 2.67 lakh, and Birbhum at 2.02 lakh. Conversely, the districts of Kalimpong and Jhargram report the least, with just 6,790 and 6,682 voters, respectively, pending adjudication.

EC Clarifies Verification Process

Officials from the Election Commission have clarified that the voters marked as “under adjudication” will be retained in the electoral rolls to prevent the exclusion of any eligible voter during the ongoing verification process. The scrutiny conducted by judicial officers will continue even after the final rolls are published, with supplementary lists being issued as necessary.

Changes Only After Due Inquiry

An official emphasized that corrections or deletions in the voter rolls will be executed only after appropriate inquiries are conducted. The SIR exercise has resulted in a notable decline in the total electorate of West Bengal, which has decreased by 8.30 percent — from 7.66 crore voters previously to just over 7.04 crore in the finalized rolls.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share